Device for dispensing tape



Sept. 8, 1942. c. s. JACK-SON 2,295,471,

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING TAPE Filed Dec. 6, 1940 Patented Sept. 8, 1942 2,295,477 DEVICE on DISPENSlNG TAPE Clarence S. Jackson, Brooklyn; N. Y., assignor to Peters Bros. Rubber 00., Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 6, 1940, Serial No. 368,792 2 Claims." (01. 242-555) The invention relates to devices for dispensing tape and more particularly adhesive tape especially of the type known as transparent pressure sensitive adhesive tape sometimes referred to as Scotch tape and commonly used as a mending tape for torn documents and the like and for other purposes. Such tape is coated on one surface with an adhesive having a relatively high degree of adhesiveness which renders the tape inherently efficient for its intended purposes but at the same time makes the tape somewhat troublesome tohandle.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel dispensing device for such tape whereby the latter, in the form of a roll, is rotatably supported in an eficient manner to enable the tape to be withdrawn as required without difiiculty.

The invention contemplates further the provision of a novel dispensing device in which the initial free end and successive free ends ofthe tape are maintained in a position of easy ac cessibility for successive withdrawls of the tape from the device in such lengths or sections as may be required for use. p

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device of the indicated character in which the objections inherent in existing devices are avoided and whereby the handling and dispensing of the adhesive tape and the severing thereof into selective lengths or sections is facilitated.

Other objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred form of the invention without defining its limits, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the dispensing device on the line l-l of Fig. 3; Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the device; Fig. 4 is a rear view thereof with the roll of adhesive tape omitted therefrom, and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary face view of the initial free end of the adhesive tape on the roll.

As shown in the drawing the dispensing device comprises a container preferably made of suitable sheet metal and consistingof side members 5 located in spaced surface parallelism and of predetermined shape and dimensions; in the illustrated example the rear free edges of said members are curved in circular arcs as indicated at 6 in Fig. 1. At their front edges the members 5 are connected with each other by transverse outer members 1 and 8 spaced apart, and an intermediate transverse member 9 lying between the members 'I and 8-iu spaced relation thereto. A guide member l0 extends inwardly from the member 9 preferably at anupward inclination relatively thereto and in conjunction with the lower edge of the outer member. 1 forms an axis slot'lll through which the adhesive tape may be withdrawn fromthe device for use as needed.

At its upper edgethe outer member] isprovided with severing or tearing means illustrated in the form of teeth or serrations ll projecting upwardly beyond the upper edges of the side members 5 and preferably in an outward direction at an inclination to the outer face of said member I as shown in Fig. 1. For the purpose to be more fully set forth hereinafter the intermediate transverse member 9 is made of reduced width at an intermediate point for instance by being formed with a curved finger recess 12 as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

Adhesive tape l3 of the kind for which the dispensing device is specially adapted is generally coiled in rolls upon tubular cores M of any suit--. able material in the well-known and conventional manner. In the instant case the initialfree end i of the tape l3 contained in the roll is preferably provided with a protecting cover of suitable material on its adhesive coated surface to, facilitate handling of said tape and to prevent objectionable adherence thereof to the fingers of the person when operatively adjusting said tape IS in the dispensing device as will be more fully described hereinafter. The protecting cover may comprise a section l3 of Cellophane, paper or other non-adhesive material which is adhesively attached in surface engagement with the adhesive coated surface of the tape 13 at the initial free end thereof as shown in Fig.5. The pro tective section l3 preferably is of a color which contrasts with the color of the tape l3, so as to be readily distinguishable and serves, in addition to its other functions, to prevent adhesion of said free end of said tape'l3 to the roll and thereby render said initialfree end easily available for operatively combining said tape l3 with the dispensing device. In addition to the parts so far. described the dispensing. device therefore; includes means for rotatably positioning such a roll of the tape therein, which means is constructed in a novel manner to facilitate the-introduction of a roll of tapeinto the device and the removal of an empty core I4 therefrom. In its illustrated form the aforesaid means comprises annular beads 15 located on the inner surfaces of the side members 5, and annularflanges l6 projecting from said beads I5 in directions toward each other as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The beads I and flanges I 6 of the side members 5 are located in axial registry with each other and preferably though not necessarily in concentric relation with the curved rear edges 6 of said side members 5 as illustrated in Fig. 1. Preferably the outer diameter of the flanges I6 i such as toflt within the cores II of the rolls of tape I3 for which the device is designed, in a manner to enable said cores I4 and associated roll of tape I3 to be easily rotated thereon. To facilitate the introduction of a roll of tape I3 into the device and the removal of any empty core I3 therefrom, the flanges I9 are formed with sloping sections I! which, in the normal condition of the device diverge outwardly with respect to each other toward the front thereof or toward the transverse members 1, 8 and 9 as shown in Fig. 2.

In the preferred construction the side member 5 and the transverse members "I, 8 and 9 as well as the guide member Ill and the teeth or serrations II comprise integral parts of each other and are stamped or otherwise produced from suitable sheet metal blanks. Similarly the beads I5 and flanges I6 may be stamped from the side members 5 to constitute integral parts thereof.

.It will of course be understood that the device may be otherwise produced than by stamping to include the parts'illustrated in the drawing and described herein.

In practice when it is desired to insert a roll of tape I3 into the device the side member 5 are spread apart against their inherent resiliency on their lines of connection with the transverse members I, 8 and 9, preferably to an extent to bring the sloping sections II of the flanges I6 into substantial parallelism with each other, or at least far enough to spread the remaining portions of the flanges I6 apart sufficiently to enable the roll of tape I3 to pass inwardly between the same. The said roll of tape I3 is then inserted into the device from the rear thereof and is ad- Justed therein to bring the core I4 into axial registry with said flanges I6, whereupon the flanges I5, because of the inherent resiliency of the side members 5 will cause said flanges I 6 to snap into the hollow bore of said core I4 at its opposite ends. I3 is accordingly rotatably positioned in the dispensing device in an efficient and reliable manner with the opposite endsof the core I4 in engagev ment with the beads l5 which provide bearings for said ends of the core I4. The free end portion of the tape I3 is then withdrawn from the roll, which is easily possible because of the protecting cover I3 at said free end, and said tape I3 is passed over the guide member ID and threaded outwardly through the slot If), this threading of said tape I3 being facilitated by the protecting cover I3. The withdrawal of the tape I3 is continued and the adhesive coated surface thereof contiguous to the protecting cover I3 is then pressed into temporary adhesive connection with the surface of the transverse member 9. It will be understood that this is easily possible because the inner surface of th tape I3 on the roll is the adhesive coated surface while the outer surface of said tape I3 is free of adhesive and generally, in the type of tape under discussion is very smooth and highly polished. When the tape I3 has been withdrawn through the slot II) to an extent sufficient to enable the free end thereof to be adhesively attached to the member 9 as described, the end with the protective cover I3 projects beyond the same as indi- At this stage th roll of tape cated in Fig. 1. I3, asthe latter is withdrawn for use, will likewise be adhesively attached to the member 9 so as to extend beyond the same or to at least lie over the finger recess I2 of said member 9. In any case a free end portion of the tape I3 is temporarily fixed in easy accessibility and said tape I3 is prevented from becoming unintentionally unwound or undesirably adhering to the device.

When it is desired to obtain a length or section of tape I3 for, use, the free end portion thereof is flrst detached from the member 9, the detachment of the initial free end of the tape I3 is facilitated by the protecting cover I3, while subsequent'detachment is made easily possible by the successive overhanging free end portions of said tape I3 and by the finger recess I2 of said member 9. In any event, after the free end of said tape I3 has been detached from the member 9, the withdrawal through the slot I0 is continued in an upward direction as indicated by dotted line in Fig. 1 and said tape I3 is brought into en'- gagement with the teeth or serrations II and transversely torn across the same to provide the which remains on the roll in the dispensing de- 1 vice may then be adhesively attached in surface engagement with the member 9 as previously described, in ready accessibility for detachment therefrom when another length or section of tape I3 is desired to be withdrawn from the dispensing device.

When all the tape I3 has been withdrawn from a given roll in thedispensing device, the side members 5 are spread apart as hereinbefore set forth which automatically withdraws the flanges I6 from the opposite ends of the empty core and at the same time enables the latter to be easily removed from the dispensing device. A new roll of tape I3 may then be inserted into and rotatably supported in the device as previously mentioned and the free end of said new roll of tape I3 may be threaded through the slot Ill and adhesively attached to the member 9 in the same way as described whereupon the dispensing device is again ready for another period of use.

The novel dispensing device is simple in construction and correspondingly easy to produce at low cost and enables the adhesive tape to be eflI- ciently handled without difliculty and without any of the objections inherent in existing de-. vices. The insertion of rolls of tape into the device and the removal of empty cores therefrom is accomplished without difficulty and, with a minimum expenditure of time and effort. In all of its forms the novel device is of attractive appearance and makes the adhesive tape contained therein easily available for use at all times.

In addition the novel device enables the tape to be torn against the ungummed surface thereof and thereby insures clean tearing and severing of said tape and avoids difficulties which are present in existing devices in which the tearing is effected against the adhesive coated surface of the tape.

Although the present invention has been de- Successive free ends of the tape constructed and arranged for instance as set forth hereinbefore. Such variations and modiiications are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for dispensing adhesive tape comprising a holder consisting of spaced, parallel side members, transverse outer members'spaced apart and extending between and connected with said side members at one end edge thereof, a transverse intermediate member extending between and connected with said side members at said one edge thereof and located in spaced relation with said outer members, said intermediate mem-.- ber in association with one of said outer members forming an exit slot and being provided at one edge with a finger recess, a guide member projecting inwardly from the opposite edge of said intermediate member at an upward inclination, tearing teeth at the upper edge of said one of said transverse outer members, and annular flanges on the opposed inner faces of said side members in axial registry with each other to rotatably support a roll of adhesive tape in said holder, saidflanges having sloping sections normally diverging outwardly relatively to each wther toward the front of the holder and being adjustable into approximate parallelism by spreading said side members apart to thereby facilitate the introduction of a roll of tape into said holder and the removal of an empty core therefrom, the tape from said roll passing over said guide member and outwardly through said exit slot and having its free end adhesively attached in surface engagement withsaid transverse intermediate member andoverlying the finger recess thereof in accessible position for her at will for withdrawing said tape through said exit slot for transverse severing along said tearing teeth into selective lengths.

2..A device for dispensing adhesive tape comprising a holder consisting of spaced, parallel side members, transverse outer members spaced apart and extending between and connectedwith said side members at one end edge thereof, a transverse intermediate .member extending between and connected with said side members at said one edge thereof and located in spaced relation with said outer members, said intermediate member in association with one of said outer members forming an exit slot and being provided with a finger recess, annular flanges on the opposed inner faces of said side members in axial registry with each other to rotatably support a roll of adhesive tape in said holder, said flanges having sloping sections normally diverging outwardly relatively to each other toward the front of the holder and being adjustable into approximate parallelism by spreading said side members apart to thereby facilitate the mounting of a roll of adhesive tape on said flanges within said holder and'the removal of an empty core therefrom, the tape from said roll passing outwardly through said exit slot and having its free end adhesively attached in surface engagement with said transverse intermediate member and overlying the finger recess thereof in accessible position for ready detachment from said intermediate memher at will for withdrawing said tape'through said exit slot, and means on said holder for enabling the withdrawn tape to be transversely severed into selective lengths.

CLARENCE'S. JACKSON.

ready detachment from said interme'diatemem- 

